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Concrete Sealers -
Don't Use Them In Your Basement!

Much like concrete coatings, concrete sealers may be a solution to avoid. To determine if a sealant will solve your water problems, look at the application you plan to use it for. For basement waterproofing purposes, a concrete sealer typically is not a recommended solution. Let's look at why.

The concept of concrete sealers makes sense. You apply the material to the inside of the basement wall and, when mixed with water, the material crystallizes and bonds the porous basement wall into a solid surface. Some concrete sealers penetrate the wall as much as 4 inches deep.

Unfortunately, this approach is only a Band-Aid method. The water problem has not been corrected, it has a temporary fix applied. For the best case, the sealant will eventually break down and water will begin to flow through the wall and cove area (where the basement wall and floor meet) again. The worst case scenario is another story.

When the water no longer has a source to escape through, the water level will rise in search of another outlet for release. As more and more water builds up around the foundation, the added weight will cause lateral pressure against your foundation wall. This, in turn, can lead to costly foundation repair needs. When the pressure exerted inward on the wall exceeds the capacity for the wall to hold it back, the wall will move inward, crack, and eventually collapse.

Before using a concrete sealant as a quick fix to your wet basement problems, talk with a professional. Look at what methods are available to solve your individual problem and obtain a few estimates. Many times, the bitterness of a poor decision outlasts the sweetness of a cheap price.

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